Parking

Parking in Banff

In summer, all parking lots in downtown Banff are usually full by 10 a.m. Use of the large Train Station Public Parking lot is strongly advised. This lot is only an 8 minute walk to downtown, where Roam Public Transit connects with all attractions in and around Banff and even connects to Canmore and Lake Louise.

Commercial tour buses have special parking regulations and are required to use the Legal Bus Routes (PDF) when travelling to their destinations in the Town of Banff.

In residential areas, unless otherwise posted, vehicles may not park for more than 72 hours, according to the Alberta Traffic Act.

Parking for Residents

To park for up to 3 hours free in the downtown paid zone, residents are required to have a Resident Parking Permit. The virtual permit also allows residents to park in the resident-only streets around the downtown paid zone.

Visit Resident Parking Permits for details and an application form. Residents can call 403.762.1294 or email municipal.enforcement@banff.ca for assistance during business hours.

Find RV parking and other specialty parking in Banff

Motorhomes/caravans/campers/RVs should not drive into downtown Banff. There is no motorhome/camper/RV parking in downtown Banff, and parking is extremely limited on the south side of the river. RV drivers are encouraged to park at the Train Station and walk or cycle into downtown, or park at the campground and take a free Roam Transit shuttle into town.
Use Banffparking.ca, a mobile site designed for use on smartphones, for maps and available spaces, free lots and parking rates for your passenger vehicle, or motorhome/RV.
Accessible (Disabled) Parking Spaces Downtown Map (PDF)

Banff is a walkable community, and most things are within a 10-minute walk. Find out more about Getting Around in Banff.

Parking in Banff National Park

Check Banff Now for real-time parking and traffic information for lots and roads in the national park.
Buy your national park Parks Pass online

Free Shuttle for Campers

People camping in the Tunnel Mountain Campgrounds should leave their vehicle in their spot and take the free Roam Public Transit shuttle to downtown Banff.

Explore Banff National Park

Find out how to get to Banff, the best ways to get to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, Roam Transit information, cycling routes and more at http://explorethepark.ca/

Cyclists & Skateboarders

Cyclists and skateboarders must ride on the road and follow all traffic rules used by all other vehicles. Cyclists must dismount when going on sidewalks to use bicycle parking racks located throughout the downtown. The speed limit town-wide is 30 km/h to provide more safety for pedestrians, cyclists and skateboarders.

Downtown Pedestrian Zone

The summer Downtown Pedestrian Zone encompasses the 100 and 200 Blocks of Banff Avenue and the cross street at Caribou Street. No vehicles except Roam Transit buses are allowed in the zone. Cyclists and skateboarders can use the zone as long as they travel slowly and yield to pedestrians. More information on the Downtown Pedestrian Zone.

No Yellow Curbs

In the Town of Banff, we don't paint our curbs yellow to indicate where you can't park. The only place you'll see curb paint is by the Fire Hall, where the 'no parking' area is indicated with red paint.

Rules of the Road
There are a number of parking regulations that are common throughout Canada so they are generally not noted by signs. For example, it is illegal to park:

within 5 metres on the approach to a stop sign or a yield sign
within 5 metres of any fire hydrant
within 1.5 metres of an access to a garage, private road or driveway or a Motor Vehicle crossway over a Sidewalk
within 5 metres of the near side of a marked crosswalk
on a side of a road facing the opposite direction of motor vehicle traffic on that side
in excess of 72 consecutive hours on any roadway

Motorists must be responsible for learning the rules of the road and parking.